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Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Struggling With Health Needs

In 2011, the popular uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assadhad major consequences, one of which is forcing millions of Syrians to flee the country. Lebanon, already struggling under complex political and socioeconomic fragility, is currently hosting the largest number of refugeesper capita.

Marj El Khohk informal refugees’ camp is located in the Khiam Valley in south Lebanon. Around 500 Syrian families live there under very poor conditions. Most of them are farmers originally from Aleppo and its environs.

When they arrived at the camp five years ago, they were registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); but a year ago, the registration of newcomers stopped.

In response, humanitarian organisations had to initiate strategic plans to deal with this situation, and in 2012, Amel Association launched an emergency plan to respond to the Syrian crisis, in cooperation with international and local organisations.

In Marj El Khohk, Amel Association is supporting the refugees in covering their primary health needs.

Around 300 children live in this camp. Some of them go to school, but most of the time, they stay here wandering all day. Here, some children made up a game with plastic.

Around 300 children live in this camp. Some of them go to school, but most of the time, they stay here wandering all day. Here, some children made up a game with plastic.

The syrian refugees live in very poor conditions, in makeshifts tents. This camp is located close to the Israeli border, so the area is watched by Lebanese services. A specific “permit” is needed to come in this camp, and each newcomer receives a visit of the National Intelligence. Here, a man walks in between the linel drying outside.

The lebanese government forbidds the refugees to build concrete shelters, as they do not want the situation to be permanent. Here, some refugees build a wooden shelter, as “it will still be better than a simple tent.” said Ali, one of the men.

Syrian refugee children suffer a lot from this situation, as they cannot have a proper education and live in camps like this one. Here, some children play in front of their shelter.

Children play with rocks while a man watches the hills outside the camp

Refugees always find a way to improve their shelters: either with some material they found, with what is donated to them. To earn a living, men work most of the time as daily workers. In urban areas, mostly 100% of the syrian children are working.